Packaging device for flat glass



March 7, 1967 A. VALLEBONA 3,307,691

PACKAGING DEVICE FOR FLAT GLASS Filed Dec. 17, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q a i w 1 k u 2 I l w) I INVENTOR 0 E E1 ALBERTO VALLEBONA QMMJ! pwm,

ATTORNEYS Mam}! 1967 A. VALLEBONA 3,307,691

PACKAGING DEVICE FOR FLAT GLASS 4 Sheets-Sheet I Filed Dec 17, 1964 INVENTOR ALB ERTO VALLEEONA GLLSM W We- ATTOR NIE 115 Marh 7, 1967 I A.VALLEBONA 3,307,691

PACKAGING DEVICE FOR FLAT GLASS Filed Dec 17, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN'R'M FIG. 8 ALBERTO VALLEBONA BY Mw WM ATTOR NI: '3 '5 A. VALLEBONA PACKAGING DEVICE FOR FLAT GLASS March 7, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed' D90- 1'7, 1964 FIGJO FICLQ INVENTOR ALBERTO VALLEBONA ATTOR NL' YS' United States Patent 3,307,691 PACKAGING DEVICE FOR FLAT GLASS Alberto Vallebona, Milan, Italy, assignor to -Pennitalia. S.p.A., Fuorni, Salerno, Italy, a corporation of Italy Filed Dec. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 418,970 Claims priority, application Italy, Jan. 20, 1964,

1,379/64, Patent 23,262 4 Claims. (Cl. 206-62) This invention relates to packaging devices for fiat glass.

An object of this invention is to provide a packaging device comprising pre-fabricated elements which are adapted to be assembled on packing of the flat glass and to be disassembled in order to withdraw the flat glass.

A further object of this invention is to provide a packaging device comprising assembled elements which upon disassembly of the package, can be piled to occupy a space which is considerably reduced with respect to the overall size of the assembled package, for the purpose of inexpensive return shipment of the empty devices.

A further object of this invention is to provide a packaging device avoiding risk of breakage of the flat glass both during assembly and opening of the package for withdrawal of its contents.

A further object of this invention is to provide a packaging device by which the fiat glass is efficiently protected adapted to effectively protect against impacts all the corner regions of the package and a major part of the edges thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a packaging device which does not require the use of loose filling such as straw, Wood chips or the like which in addition to being easily perishable requires a special skill by the operator making up the package.

A further object of this invention is to provide a packaging defice by which the fiat glass is efiiciently protected throughout independently of the skill of personnel attending to packaging.

A further object of this invention is to provide a packaging device, the protective efiiciency of which is readily controllable.

A further object of this invention is to provide a packaging device adapted to be converted for use as a supporting block for the glass sheets.

A further object of this invention is to provide a packaging device which is adapted to be superposed on a packaging device of the same type, whereby the two packaging devices interengage.

With the above and further objects in view as will be understood from the appended description, a preferred embodiment of this invention provides a device for packaging a plurality of glass sheets arranged in a juxtaposed relationship to form a pack, comprising two rectangular boxes or end caps of a U-shaped cross section, adapted to be fitted on two opposite head portions of the glass pack, one box having a bottom lining of resiliently yieldable material and at least two pairs of similar uprights, one end of each of which is adapted to be removably secured to one box and carries at its other end quick fastening means adapted to engage attachment means carried by the other box, such as to draw on assembly one box towards the other in order to clamp the glass pack age between the box bottoms.

Further characteristic features and advantages of this invention will be understood from the appended detailed description referring to the accompanying drawings given by way of example, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging device according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on line IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on line IIIIII of FIG. 1;

FIG 4 is a part-sectional perspective view of a packag- 3,307,691 Patented Mar. 7, 1967 ice ing device according to this invention in a dissassembled condition;

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 and shows in a part-sectional perspective view a packaging device according to an alternative construction;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pile of packaging devices according to this invention;

FIG. 7 is a detail view showing two packaging devices according to this invention in a superposed relationship;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view on line VIII-VIII of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an upright of a modified packaging device;

.FIG. 10 is a sectional view on line XX of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of a packaging device according to this invention used as a supporting block.

The packaging device according to the preferred embodiment of this invention comprises two rectangular boxes or end caps 1, 2 of a U-shaped cross section. The boxes 1, 2 are adapted to be fitted on two opposite head portions of a pack 29 of flat glass.

The package is completed by two pairs of similar uprights 3, each of which is bored at one end 4 and carries at its other end 5 a pivot 13 for a cam lever 12 (FIG. 8) provided with a handle 33.

A fastening hook 11 is articulated by a curved end portion to a cam lever 12.

The two boxes 1, 2 are each reinforced by means of two metal cross members 7, 8, respectively.

The cross members 7, 8 are each transversely secured to the outer face of the bottom wall of the boxes 1, 2 and reach by their ends beyond their respective box.

The protruding ends of the cross members have hearing thereon the ends of the uprights 3.

The reinforcing cross members 7, 8 are U-shaped structural members having their web turned towards the boxes, their flanges facing outwardly. I

The cross members 8 on box 2 are made wider to accommodate the cross members 7 on box 1.

The ends of the cross members 8 secured to the box 2 are each provided with apertured flaps 9 for removable attachment of a bolt 10 extending through the apertured end 4 of the upright 3. The other cross member 7 are provided at both ends with a pin 14 for engagement with the fastening hook 11.

The cam lever 12 and fastening hook 11 serve for quick fastening of the uprights 3 to pin 14 of the box 1.

Such quick fastening means, generally denoted by 6, can be of any other type provided they can be coupled and uncoupled rapidly without the use of tools and they act on assembly to automatically draw the boxes towards each other.

The box 1 has the inner face of its bottom wall lined by a resilient pad 15.

The pad 15 is in the form of a layer of expanded plastic 3 to 4 centimeters in thickness, or other material of similar elastic properties.

The other'box 2 is provided on its bottom 'with two lugs 17 on which the glass sheets 28 rest.

Upon assembly of the package the two boxes 1, 2 face each other, as explained above, and are retained in this relationship by the uprights 3 which interconnect the cross members 7, 8 on the opposite boxes 1, 2.

In the assembled condition each upright 3 has its lower end 4 secured to a protruding end of a cross member 8 by means of the bolt 10.

The other end 5 of the upright 3 is connected to one protruding each of a cross member 7 by means of the fastening hook 11 engaging the pin 14 (FIGS. 2 and 8).

By operating a crank 33 the lever 12 is moved to cause the fastening hook 11 to act on the pin 14 and automatically draw the box 1 towards the box 2.

The spaced relationship of the boxes 1, 2 is maintained by the uprights 3 which bear on the protruding ends of the cross members 7, 3, FIGS. 2 and 8 and limit relative displacement thereof.

The flat glass sheets, denoted by 28, are arranged edgewise into the device to form a package, the opposite head portions of which are inserted into the boxes 1, 2, respectively.

When assembling the package a paper sheet 34 is conveniently interposed between each two glass sheets, the whole package being preferably enclosed by a corrugated paperboard wrapping 30.

The inner longitudinal dimension of the boxes 1, 2 slightly exceeds the base length of the glass sheets 28.

The inner transverse dimension of the boxes 1, 2 approximately equals the thickness of the package.

The spacing of the bottom walls of the boxes 1, 2 in the assembled condition of the package exceeds the height of the glass sheets. The ditference between the spacing of the bottom walls of the boxes 1, 2 and the height of the glass sheets 28 is smaller than the sum of the thicknesses of the pad 15 and lugs 17, so that upon engagement of the fastening means 6 the glass sheets 28 are firmly clamped between the two boxes in the assembled package.

The boxes 1, 2 are provided on the inner face of their side walls with strips of yieldable material 16, 18, respectively, which act to center the glass sheets 28 and shall therefore be referred to hereinafter as centering strips.

Both the centering strips 16, 18 and lugs 17 can be made of Wood or hard rubber or other material of a somewhat resilient character.

The cross members 7 on the box 1 are each centrally provided with a cross dowel 19 which is secured to and extends between the flanges of the member.

The dowel 19 is spaced from the web of the cross member for pass-age therebet ween of a hook 20 on a suitable lifting gear.

When it is desired to secure the packaging device according to this invention to a loading platform 22 on a vehicle (FIG. 6) a rope 21 extends between the dowel 19 and web of the cross member and is anchored by its ends to the loading platform 22.

This arrangement is more particularly convenient when a plurality of packages are piled as indicated in FIG. 6.

By causing the uprights 3 to rest on the cross members on the boxes, relative displacement of the boxes 1, 2 is limited during closure of the quick fastening means 6 and the weight of the top packages and contents thereof on superposition of a plurality of packages is advantageously taken up by the uprights, thereby relieving the glass sheets.

, On superposition of pack-ages, the cross members 7 on one package reach into the cross member 8 on the other package preventing relative displacement of the two superposed packages (FIG. 7).

The uprights 3 are conveniently manufactured from a U-shaped structural member, the flanges of which are turned outwardly in the assembled package.

The pivot 13 for the cam lever 12 is secured between the flanges of the structural members 3, the clearance therebetween accommodating the handle 33 on the lever 12 in the engaged condition of the fastening means 6.

A lock pin 23 extending through the flanges on the structural members at the top end of each upright locates and secures the lever 12 in the assembled condition of the package (FIGS. 1, 2 and 7).

Alternatively, the uprights denoted by 3A on the package each comprise two telescopically extensible sections 24, 25 (FIG. 9) formed with holes 26 through which pegs 27 extend for mutual positioning of the upright sections. The package can thereby be suited to flat glass of various heights.

The head portions 1, 2 are generally made of wood, as shown in detail in FIG. 4.

In this case the boxes 1, 2 are equal in size and can be superposed to form one closed container when in the dis-. assembled condition of the packing device (FIG. 4).

The length of the uprights 3 or sections 24, 25 of the uprights 3A, respectively, is smaller than the inner longitudinal dimension of the boxes 1, 2, whereby the uprights or upright sections, respectively, can be arranged in the boxes on disassembly.

By this construction the overall size of the packing device can be limited on return shipment to the size of two superposed boxes, 1, 2 tied by a wire or metal strip 31.

When the boxes 1, 2 are made of sheet metal or other thin material, one box is conveniently made smaller in size than the other, so that it can be fitted into the latter to form one closed container adapted to enclose uprights 3, 3A, respectively, when the package is disassembled (FIG. 5).

The upright pairs in the packaging device according to this invention can be more than two and shall match in number the cross members secured to each head portion.

The boxes 1, 2 hold the glass sheets 28 at two opposite ends and act as resilient abutments.

The components of a packaging device, such as the boxes 1, 2 and uprights 3, 3A, respectively, are interchangeable against corresponding components of other de vices, whereby the stock required for operation can be considerably reduced.

The packaging device according to this invention is easily suitable for use as a supporting block for the glass sheets 28 by arranging the components as shown in FIG. 11.

With this arrangement, the pair of uprights 3 situate on one side of the glass sheets 28 are moved to the opposite side to act as struts for the other pair of uprights, causing the hook 11 associated with an uprights acting as a strut to engage the lock pin 23 on the upright to be buttressed.

A lug 32 shall be fitted beneath the box 2 resting on .the floor to incline the device towards the uprights acting as struts.

From the above description of specific embodiments of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, various materials, arrangements and shapes of parts, as Well as various coupling means, within the range of equivalents other than those specifically mentioned may be employed in the construction of a suitable packaging device.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the specific details of certain embodiments, it is not intended that such details shall be regarded as limitations on the scope of the invention, except insofar as included in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A container for packaging sheet material such as thin glass sheets, comprising:

(1) A first rectangular box, comprising:

(a) a pair of elongated side panels forming side walls;

(b) a pair of end panels connected to each end of said elongated panels;

(c) an elongated top panel connected to one side of each elongated side panel to form said box;

(d) a centering strip fastened in juxtapositioned relationship to the glass side of one side wall panel;

(e) a resilient pad fastened in juxtapositioned relationship to the glass side of said top panel:

(II) A second rectangular box, comprising:

(a) a pair of elongated side panels forming side walls;

(b) a pair of end panels connected along opposite edges of each panel to the side panels, and forming end panels of said box;

(0) an elongated bottom panel connected to both said side and end panels forming a bottom panel for said box;

(d) a lug fastened to the glass-bearing side of said bottom panel:

(X) Means for fastening an end of an upright to an end of a cross member, comprising a fastening hook articulated to a cam lever, said cam lever mounted on a pivot secured to one end of said upright so that (III) Two pairs of uprights, each upright having a 5 the fastening hook is engageable to the pin of the channel shape in cross section: cross member. (IV) A pair of top cross members, comprising a pair 3. A container for packaging sheet material such as of panels in spaced relationship, each cross member thin glass sheets, comprising: being attached at one end thereof to an upright near (I) A first rectangular box, comprising: an end of said upright, each of said cross members 10 (a) a pair of elongated side panels forming side having a pair of members joined by a pin and holding walls; said member in spaced relationship: (b) a pair of end panels connected to each end of (V) Said first and second rectangular boxes enclosing said elongated panels;

head portions of sheet material: (c) an elongated top panel connected to one side (VI) A pair of cross members fastened to the bottom of each elongated side panel to form said box; panel of said second box: (d) a centering strip fastened in juxtapositioned (VII) A pair of said uprights being connected at one relationship to the glass side of one side wall end to each of said bottom cross members: panel; (VIII) A second pair of said uprights being pivotally (e) a resilient pad fastened in juxtapositioned reconnected to one end of said top-cross member: lationship to the glass side of said top panel; (IX) Fastening means attached to an end of the other (II) A second rectangular box, comprising:

of said pair of uprights for engaging the unattached (a) a pair of elongated side panels forming side end of each cross member, whereby when the fastenwalls; ing means is attached to the cross members the pack- (b) a pair of end panels connected along opposite aged sheet material is firmly clamped between the edges f each panel to the Side pan ls, and formsaid first and second boxes in an assembled package. ing end panels of said box; 2. A container for packaging sheet material such as (c) an elongated bottom panel connected to both thin glass sheets, comprising: said side and end panels forming a bottom panel (I) A first rectangular box, comprising: for said box;

(a) a pair of elongated side panels forming side (d) a lug fastened to the glass-bearing side of Walls; said bottom panel: (b) a pair of end panels connected to each end of (III) TWO pairs of uprights, each upright having a said elongated panels; channel shape in cross section: (c) an elongated top panel connected to one side V) A P Of p S members, comprising a pair of each elongated side panel to form said box; of panels in spaced relationship, each cross member ((1) a centering strip fastened in juxtapositioned being attached at one end thereof to an upright near relationship to the glass side of one side wall an end of said p each of said cross member panel; having a pair of members joined by a pin and holding (e) a resilient pad fastened in juxtapositioned re- Said members Spaced relationship:

lationship to the glass id f aid top l; (V) Said first and second rectangular boxes enclosing (II) A second rectangular box, comprising: head Portions of Sheet material! (a) a pair of elongated id panels for ing id (VI) A pair of cross members fastened to the bottom wall panel of said second box: (b) a pair of end panels connected along opposite A P of Said uprights being Connected at 0116 edges of each panel to the side panels, and formend to each of Said bottom cross members: in end panels f id b (VIII) A second pair of said uprights being pivotally an elongated bottom panel connected to h connected to one end of said top cross member:

Said id d d panels f i a bottom panel (IX) Fastening means attached to an end of the other f id b of said pair of uprights for engaging the unattached (d) 3 l f t d t h 1 .b -i i f i end of each cross member, whereby when the fastenbottom l; ing means is attached to the cross members the pack- (III) Two pairs of uprights, each upright havi a aged sheet material is firmly clamped between the channel Shape in cross section; said first and second boxes in an assembled package: V) A pair of top cross members, comprising a pair (X) Fastening means secured to the bottom box for of panels in spaced relationship, each cross member removably fastening the uprights comprising flap being attached at one end thereof to an upright near one end of Said Cross members, aid flaps bored to an end of said upright, each of said cross member removably engage abolt extending through the bored having a pair of members joined by a pin and holding ends of an p i Said members in Spaced relationship: 4. The container for packaging sheet material of claim 1, wherein the centering strips and the resilient pad are material made of expanded plastic about 3 to 4 centimeters in thickness.

(V) Said first and second rectangular boxes enclosing head portions of sheet material;

(VI) A pair of cross members fastened to the bottom panel of said second box; i (VII) A pair of said uprights being connected at one end to each of said bottom cross members:

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS (VIII) A second pair of said uprights being pivotally 1,616,605 2/1927 Campbell 105-367 connected to one end of said top cross member: 1752996 4/1930 Pagel (IX) Fastening means attached to an end of the other 19 3/1944 Kelly 206 62 of said pair of uprights for engaging the unattached FOREIGN PATENTS end of each cross member, whereby when the fasten- 1,077,193 4/1954 France.

ing means is attached to the cross members the packaged sheet material is firmly clamped between the said first and second boxes in an assembled package:

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. WILLIAM T. DIXSON, Examiner. 

1. A CONTAINER FOR PACKAGING SHEET MATERIAL SUCH AS THIN GLASS SHEETS, COMPRISING: (1) A FIRST RECTANGULAR BOX, COMPRISING: (A) A PAIR OF ELONGATED SIDE PANELS FORMING SIDE WALLS; (B) A PAIR OF END PANELS CONNECTED TO EACH END OF SAID ELONGATED PANELS; (C) AN ELONGATED TOP PANEL CONNECTED TO ONE SIDE OF EACH ELONGATED SIDE PANEL TO FORM SAID BOX; (D) A CENTERING STRIP FASTENED IN JUXTAPOSITIONED RELATIONSHIP TO THE GLASS SIDE OF ONE SIDE WALL PANEL; (E) A RESILIENT PAD FASTENED IN JUXTAPOSITIONED RELATIONSHIP TO THE GLASS SIDE OF SAID TOP PANEL: (II) A SECOND RECTANGULAR BOX, COMPRISING: (A) A PAIR OF ELONGATED SIDE PANELS FORMING SIDE WALLS; (B) A PAIR OF END PANELS CONNECTED ALONG OPPOSITE EDGES OF EACH PANEL TO THE SIDE PANELS, AND FORMING END PANELS OF SAID BOX; (C) AN ELONGATED BOTTOM PANEL CONNECTED TO BOTH SAID SIDE BAD END PANELS DORMING A BOTTOM PANEL FOR SAID BOX; (D) A LUG FASTENED TO THE GLASS-BEARING SIDE OF SAID BOTTOM PANEL: (III) TWO PAIRS OF UPRIGHTS, EACH UPRIGHT HAVING A CHANNEL SHAPE IN CROSS SECTION: 